I've kept freshwater tanks for about 3 years now, and I am considering at some point changing my 55 gallon into a SW tank.

My question is, just how difficult is it to set up a coral reef tank? Or should I just start with FOWLR?

Also, I've read in a few places that some people do not use filters on SW aquariums? This goes against everything I've ever been taught.

Any thoughts/suggestions are welcome, as I am just in the beginning stages of thinking about what to do with this 55 gallon aquarium whenever my tiger barbs and australian rainbows die off. (Not that I'm going to do anything to "hurry" this process along, I just know that I'm not going to "replace" them whenever that time comes...)

Welcome to the dark side is right. I would personally recommend starting with FOWLR. That will test your abilities before investing to much $$ in lighting, equipment & corals. See how you do with the FOWLR than move up from there.

As far as not having a "Filter" to speak of, they usually do have some sort of filter but typically it is just a water polishing filter(i.e. filter sock or media). I'd recommend a filter sock setup. Easier to maintain water quality. Avoid using sumps with Bio-balls. They can be very well known as Nitrate factories. The theory behind "no filter" on saltwater tanks is the Live rock does most of the "filtering". But you still need something to removed larger particles from the water column & something to agitate the water.

Sorry for the late reply. If there's anything else I can answer feel free to ask away!

Thanks for looking out ScottFish.

"Live not one's life as though one had a thousand years, but live each day as the last." Marcus Aurelius

I would also recommend a FOWLR as well. It's the easiest to start with and a little bit more forgiving than Corals, which require some strict parameters and care.

Get your hands wet (pun totally intended) with a FOWLR first and eventually upgrade (using your FOWLR as a base) slowly over time into a Reef. Though my advice, run a FOWLR for at least 3 years successfully.

Recommended LR would be between 1-2lbs per gallon. That is technically your "Filter". But once you put the rock in the tank, you'll need to let it sit for some time to cycle. Typically, after you add the rock some bacteria dies off creating an Ammonia spike.

As far as stocking, it depends what you're interested in. I would stick to some Chromis, Ocellaris Clownfish, firefish & a series of Wrasse. I would avoid most tangs as they get rather big for that size tank. The only tangs that may be acceptable to that size tank aren't great fish for beginners as they require a little more attention. Tangs like to swim. Typically, that is why they usually recommend larger tanks for them. Not just because of how big they get.

Yes, it is highly recommended that you "Understock" the tank. It is extremely easy to "overstock" a tank in the marine world. There are so many fish that get too big for most common aquarium sizes. Research will be key here.

If there are some fish you are interested in, list them for us. I would be glad to help you narrow down which ones you could try safely.

"Live not one's life as though one had a thousand years, but live each day as the last." Marcus Aurelius

Oh my gosh, I saw the thread title of "Suggestions for a SW 'beginner'?" and immediately thought Star Wars instead of salt water. So I was going to suggest watching the films in order of release instead of numerical order. I've been on the Dark Side too long.

Good thread. I was thinking about posing the same question about suggestions for a salt water starter tank. So let me ask this: how difficult are blennies to keep? Would they be a good fish for a saltwater novice? I find them fascinating.

C. Andrew Nelson wrote:Good thread. I was thinking about posing the same question about suggestions for a salt water starter tank. So let me ask this: how difficult are blennies to keep? Would they be a good fish for a saltwater novice? I find them fascinating.

Blennies are great fish to keep and I found them very hardy. We can move this to another thread to keep this original one rolling.

Freshwater Tropic wrote:Recommended LR would be between 1-2lbs per gallon. That is technically your "Filter". But once you put the rock in the tank, you'll need to let it sit for some time to cycle. Typically, after you add the rock some bacteria dies off creating an Ammonia spike.

As far as stocking, it depends what you're interested in. I would stick to some Chromis, Ocellaris Clownfish, firefish & a series of Wrasse. I would avoid most tangs as they get rather big for that size tank. The only tangs that may be acceptable to that size tank aren't great fish for beginners as they require a little more attention. Tangs like to swim. Typically, that is why they usually recommend larger tanks for them. Not just because of how big they get.

Yes, it is highly recommended that you "Understock" the tank. It is extremely easy to "overstock" a tank in the marine world. There are so many fish that get too big for most common aquarium sizes. Research will be key here.

If there are some fish you are interested in, list them for us. I would be glad to help you narrow down which ones you could try safely.

I will definitely be doing this!

And yes, I do know about the tangs. I love the yellow tangs, but a 55 gallon just is not big enough for them...

No I have not. I ended up selling the 55 gallon. Just have waaayyyy too much going on right now. Plus room for the aquariums was starting to become a factor. (I had the 55, and I still have, and will take something really major to happen for me to get rid of, my 125 gallon and 75 gallon.) But one day I will have a SW (that saltwater, not Star Wars, guys, haha) aquarium.